Envelop for inner tubes.



c F. SMiTH & c. 'A. WHITE. ENVELOP FORJNNER TUBES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 4. I915- RENEWED JAN. 24, I917.

1 ,QQ]. IUQ. Patented Apr. 3, 1917.

TlNTTldD dTATEd PATENT @FFTQE.

CHARLES E. siurrn, or isnienron, AND otrrronn A. warm, or soMEavILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 3, 1917.

Application filed October 4, 1915, Serial No. 53,988. Renewed January 24:, 1917. Serial No. 144,315.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, CHARLES F. SMITH and CLIFFORD A, WHITE, citizens of the United States, and residents of Brighton and Somerville, Massachusetts, respectively, have jointly invented an Improvement in Envelops for Inner Tubes, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

The present invention relates to an envelop or wrapper for inner tubes for pneumatic tires, and is embodied in a protecting wrapper so constructed as to cover an inner tube completely when properly folded, and

to protect the rubber at all points so that the tube will not be chafed or otherwise injured by contact with outside objects when being carried, for example, as a spare in an automobile.

The wrapper embodying the invention is so constructed as to protect the tube from being chafed by the metal valve, this being an important feature since tubes as usually folded and carried are apt to be worn through by contact with the valve stem which lies in contact with the wall of the tube. The envelop embodyingthe invention is so arranged as to cover the rubber portion of the tube completely, but with the metallic valve outside of the cover so that when the cover and tube are assembled the valve is outside of the cover which lies between the valve and the tube. Moreover, when the tube is completely inclosed in the cover it is capable of being folded in the usual way, and the cover may be provided with a fastening device which is arranged to surround the package so as to hold the same in its most compact form. It is obvious, however, that the holding device is not essential as a component part of the package since a separate fastening device may be used without departing from the invention.

The envelop or wrapper embodying the invention consists of a strip of suitable material, such as imitation leather, preferably provided with a lining of fleece or similar material for the better protection of the tube, the said strip of material being slightly longer than the deflated and flattened tube, and being of suflicient width to form a double fold over the tube so that the latter is protected on both sides. The opposite sides of the envelop are provided with fastening devices so thatwhen the two edges are overlapped around the tube, they can be fastened together, thereby holding the tube inclosed. The opposite sides of the tube, preferably at the middle thereof, are notched so as to allow the metallic valve to project through the wrapper, the said valve thus being wholly outside of the wrapper when the latter is in place and fastened. The tube, thus completely inclosed by the wrapper is then folded in the usual way with the valve lying between the folds and the package canthen be completed by any suitable means for holding the sides of the folds together.

One feature of the present invention consists in providing the wrapper with a transverse folding fiap fastened to the wrapper at one side of the middle thereof, and long enough to go around the folded wrapper and tube; thesaid fastening memberbeing provided with fastening devices at its opposite edges.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the outside of an envelop embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same with a tube therein; one half of the envelop being shown as folded over and fastened, and the other half being shown as open; Fig. 3 is an end view of an envelop and tube folded but not closed; and Fig. 4 is a similar view of the complete closed package.

In order to fold an inner tube into its smallest compass, it is customary to deflate the tube until it is entirely flat, and then to fold the same with the valve projecting outward at the middle; after which the two ends of the flattened tube are folded inwardly till they meet the valve, the final fold then being made at the middle as best shown in Fig. 3. It is customary to fold the tube in this way, and to tie the said tube or fasten it with a band of rubber; and it may or may not be kept in a bag for protection. In any event, it is obvious that the valve itself is in contact with the walls of the tube, and it frequently happens that the tube is chafed by the valve stem or by other articles coming in contact with the rubber.

It is the purpose of the present invention to protect the rubber at all points without increasing the bulk of the package; and the envelop embodying the invention is arranged toicover the tube completely; at the the length of which is slightly greater thanthe length of a deflated tube in its flattened same time providing for thevalve, without increasing the bulk of the package.

' Referring to Fig. 1, the envelop embodying the inventionconsists of a flat-strip. of suitable material such as. imitation leather,

state, the width of the strip being approximately three timesthe width of thetube or inany' event of suflicient'width to cause the edges of'thestrip to overlap when folded over the'tube as indicated in Fig. 2. The

strip 1 is preferably provided with a lining 2 of fleece, or similar material, as indicated in dotted lines, so .as to' afford an additional protectionto the tube when folded in the envelop; The strip 1 is further provided,

I when the-latter is folded around the tubeas substantially at the middle, with notched portions 3 at opposite sides to allow the valve stem "to extend through the wrapper shown-in Fig. 2.' The said wrapper or strip is further provided along one edge with fastening devices 4, preferably sockets which ar'eadaptedtocooperate' with studs 5 properly located on the face of the wrapper, so that the sockets and studs'come together when the tube is inclosed as indicated in Fig. 2. In using the envelop, it is placed in the position shown in Fig. 2, and the tube 6 is laid along the middle of the fwra'pper as shown; after which the two edges of the wrapper are folded one over the other and Copies of thisjpateut may be obtained for folded over and fastened so that the rubber portion of the tube is entirely covered, the two ends are folded inwardly so that they lie adjacent tothe valve; and the two folded sides are then brought together as shown in Fig. 3, this being-the usual way of folding a tube into its smallest compass. The valve, however, instead of lying in contact with the'tube itself lies in contact with the wrapper, so that the rubber is wholly protected from the valve, as well as from any other article with which the package may come in contact. h 7

It is obviousthat the package thus folded is complete so far as relates to the protection of the tube and that the folds may be held together by any suitable fastening means, such as a cord or a rubber band.

A further feature of the invention, however, consists in supplying the package with a fastening device forming a part of the envelop itself, the strip which forms the envelop being shown as provided with a transverse flap 8 permanently secured to the strip at one side of the middle; the position of the fastening device being such that when the package is folded it will be substantially midway between the middle fold and the two end folds as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. In the construction shown, wehave indicated the flap 8 as a strip of material similar to the material used for the wrapper itself, thc'said flap being'stitched at 9 along the longitudinal median line ofthe envelop so as not to interfere with the folding of the wrapper over the tube. The said fastening device is shown as provided with studs 10 and sockets 12,-so that when the envelop has been folded, asshown in Fig. 4;, the ends of the fastener can be connected together to complete the package.

What we claim is:

1. An envelop for inner tubes comprising a wrapper slightly longer than the flattened tube and more than double the width thereof, the sides of said wrapper being provided with openings for the valve stem; and fastening devices secured along the edges of said wrapper to connect the overlapping portions thereof when the tube has been inclosed therein.

2. An envelop for inner tubes comprising a wrapper somewhat longer than the tube, and of sufficient width to overlap at the edges, the sides of said wrapper being provided with openings for the valve; fastening devices for securing together the overlapping sides of the wrapper; and means for fastening the folds of said envelop together when the said envelop with a tube therein has been folded endwise.

3. An envelop for inner tubes comprising a. strip of material slightly longer than the flattened tube, the said strip being sufficiently wide to overlap the tube and being provided with notches to embrace the valve; fastening devices for the overlapping ends of said wrapper; and a fastening flap secured to said wrapper between the middle and one end thereof, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification.

' CHARLES F. SMITH.

CLIFFORD A. WHITE.

five cents each,'by addressing the Commissioner of latents, WashingtonQD. G." 

